1 Kings 1

David in Old Age

1 Now King David was old, advanced in age; and they covered him with clothes, but he could not keep warm.2 So his servants said to him, "Let them seek a young virgin for my lord the king, and let her attend the king and become his nurse; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm."3 So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.4 The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

5 Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run before him.6 His father had never crossed him at any time by asking, "Why have you done so?" And he was also a very handsome man, and he was born after Absalom.7 He had conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and following Adonijah they helped him.8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fatlings by the tstone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants.10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

Nathan and Bathsheba

11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith has become king, and David our lord does not know it? 12 So now come, please let me give you counsel and save your life and the life of your son Solomon.13 Go at once to King David and say to him, 'Have you not, my lord, O king, sworn to your maidservant, saying, "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become king?'14 "Behold, while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words."

15 So Bathsheba went in to the king in the bedroom. Now the king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering to the king.16 Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. And the king said, "What do you wish?"17 She said to him, "My lord, you swore to your maidservant by the LORD your God, saying, 'Surely your son Solomon shall be king after me and he shall sit on my throne.'18 Now, behold, Adonijah is king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know it. 19 He has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king and Abiathar the priest and Joab the commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.20 As for you now, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.21 Otherwise it will come about, as soon as my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered offenders."

22 Behold, while she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.23 They told the king, saying, "Here is Nathan the prophet." And when he came in before the king, he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.24 Then Nathan said, "My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?25 For he has gone down today and has sacrificed oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's sons and the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest, and behold, they are eating and drinking before him; and they say, ' Long live King Adonijah!'26 But me, even me your servant, and Zadok the priest and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and your servant Solomon, he has not invited.27 Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

28 Then King David said, "Call Bathsheba to me." And she came into the king's presence and stood before the king.29 The king vowed and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,30 surely as I vowed to you by the LORD the God of Israel, saying, 'Your son Solomon shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place'; I will indeed do so this day."31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and prostrated herself before the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever."

32 Then King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada." And they came into the king's presence.33 The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.34 Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there as king over Israel, and blow the trumpet and say, ' Long live King Solomon!'35 Then you shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit on my throne and be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah."36 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king and said, "Amen! Thus may the LORD, the God of my lord the king, say.37 As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may He be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David!"

Solomon Anointed King

38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.39 Zadok the priest then took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, " Long live King Solomon!"40 All the people went up after him, and the people were playing on flutes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth shook at their noise.

41 Now Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, "Why is the city making such an uproar?"42 While he was still speaking, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came. Then Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a valiant man and bring good news."43 But Jonathan replied to Adonijah, "No! Our lord King David has made Solomon king.44 The king has also sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites; and they have made him ride on the king's mule.45 Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon, and they have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise which you have heard.46 Besides, Solomon has even taken his seat on the throne of the kingdom.47 Moreover, the king's servants came to bless our lord King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name and his throne greater than your throne!' And the king bowed himself on the bed.48 The king has also said thus, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has granted one to sit on my throne today while my own eyes see it. '"

49 Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified; and they arose and each went on his way.50 And Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, and he arose, went and took hold of the horns of the altar.51 Now it was told Solomon, saying, "Behold, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for behold, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the sword.'"52 Solomon said, "If he is a worthy man, not one of his hairs will fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he will die."53 So King Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

1 Kings 1

Adonijah Tries to Seize the Throne

1 King David was very old;t even when they covered him with blankets,t he could not get warm.2 His servants advisedt him, “A young virgin must be found for our master, the king,t to take care of the king’s needst and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with yout and keep our master, the king, warm.”t3 So they looked through all Israelt for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.

4 The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.t
5 Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith,ts was promoting himself,t boasting,t “I will be king!” He managed to acquiret chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.t6 (Now his father had never correctedt himt by saying, “Why do you do such things?” He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.t)7 He collaboratedt with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supportedt him.t8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s elite warriorst did not ally themselvest with Adonijah.9 Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons,s as well as all the men of Judah, the king’s servants.

10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors,t or his brother Solomon.
11 Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, “Has it been reported to yout that Haggith’s son Adonijah has become king behind our master David’s back?t12 Nowt let me give you some advice as to howt you can save your life and your son Solomon’s life.13 Visitt King David and say to him, ‘My master, O king, did you not solemnly promiset your servant, “Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne”? So why has Adonijah become king?’

14 Whilet you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrives and verify your report.”t
15 So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters.t (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.)16 Bathsheba bowed down on the floor beforet the king. The king said, “What do you want?”17 She replied to him, “My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the Lord your God, ‘Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.’18 But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you,s my master the king, are not even aware of it!t19 He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon.20 Now,s my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.t

21 If a decision is not made,t when my master the king is buried with his ancestors,t my son Solomon and It will be considered state criminals.”t
22 Just then,t while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.23 The king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.t24 Nathan said, “My master, O king, did you announce, ‘Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne’?25 For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king’s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this momentt they are having a feastt in his presence, and they have declared, ‘Long live King Adonijah!’t26 But he did not invite me – your servant – or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.

27 Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servantss who should succeed my master the king on his throne?”t

David Picks Solomon as His Successor

28 King David responded,t “Summon Bathsheba!”s She came and stood before the king.t29 The king swore an oath: “As certainly as the Lord lives (he who has rescued met from every danger),30 I will keept today the oath I swore to you by the Lord God of Israel: ‘Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.’”

31 Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floort and said, “May my master, King David, live forever!”
32 King David said, “Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet,s and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” They came before the king,33 and het told them, “Take your master’st servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon.t34 There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anointt him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’35 Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreedt that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.”36 Benaiah son of Jehoiada respondedt to the king: “So be it!t May the Lord God of my master the king confirm it!t

37 As the Lord is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!”t
38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethitess went down, put Solomon on King David’s mule, and led him to Gihon.39 Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oilts from the tent and poured it ont Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, “Long live King Solomon!”

40 All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake.t
41 Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating.t When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, “Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?”t42 As he was still speaking, Jonathant son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, “Come in, fort an important man like you must be bringing good news.”t43 Jonathan repliedt to Adonijah: “No!t Our mastert King David has made Solomon king.44 The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him on the king’s mule.45 Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointedt him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear.46 Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.t47 The king’s servants have even come to congratulatet our mastert King David, saying, ‘May your Gods make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!’t Then the king leanedt on the bed

48 and saidt this: ‘The Lord God of Israel is worthy of praise becauset today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.’”t
49 All of Adonijah’s guests panicked;t they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways.50 Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.s51 Solomon was told, “Look, Adonijah fears you;t see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘May King Solomon solemnly promiset me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’”52 Solomon said, “If he is a loyal subject,t not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor,t he will die.”

53 King Solomon sent men to bring him downt from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, “Go home.”t